Multiverse Question

[CulixCupric]

So this has been making me scratch my head. Y'know how there is supposedly an infinite number of parallel universes with their own realities? Shouldn't that mean that there is a universe in which that version of me somehow travels to this universe at this exact moment in time and appears right next to me? My brain really hurts!

all universes, and even points in time, all probably co-exist simultaneously.

 

[Lukeje]

Is your reasoning that because everything that could happen doesn't happen in this universe, the multiverse can't exist? Because that doesn't make sense.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

I would think the laws of physics would stop travel between Multiverses. Namely the laws of Thermodynamics because the Universe is a closed system, and travel between would require a gain/loss in the total amount of energy contained in that system.

The idea is that when you make a choice, another "You" makes a different choice.

Like if you eat out: in this universe you choose a burger, but in another you choose a salad.

So yes, in THEORY another you as traveled to another universe and met another you.

But never THIS you because we are the Alpha-verse. We have to be. We came up with the theory and haven't been able to prove it. There's already another universe where I didn't reply to this thread. But that one branched off of this one, because this is clearly the Prime universe.
Right?

What makes you think we're the "alphaverse"? There is no reason why we would be the prime universe. In fact the theory doesn't have a prime universe it started off at the Big Bang, and divided from there.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Yes, but there is also a universe where he doesn't, and that's the one where you are posting this topic. In some other universe there is a you who is posting the question 'how did my alternate universe self manage to come join us?' In the moment that the universe splits, one has to go one way and one goes the other. You are only aware of this reality, but the other you is aware of the other one, but ne'er the twain shall meet.

 

[Blue Musician]

If there are several parallel universes where the me did the opposite to what I did, probabilities would be that I would be already dead.

 

[Crazy]

Where's the 'verse that made a dimensional portal? I'd like to meet my evil self.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

So this has been making me scratch my head. Y'know how there is supposedly an infinite number of parallel universes with their own realities? Shouldn't that mean that there is a universe in which that version of me somehow travels to this universe at this exact moment in time and appears right next to me? My brain really hurts!

The problem there is your assumption that the number of extra dimensions is infinite. The best scientific theories put the number at either <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory>10, 11, or 26. The idea that there are an infinite number of universes where every eventually must statically exist is an invention of science-fiction.

 

[FluxCapacitor]

The problem there is your assumption that the number of extra dimensions is infinite. The best scientific theories put the number at either <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory>10, 11, or 26. The idea that there are an infinite number of universes where every eventually must statically exist is an invention of science-fiction.

3 things:

1. There's a difference between a dimension as you're using it and a parallel universe (sometimes erroneously referred to as an "alternate dimension", which is why you're confused).

2. The concept of "many worlds" (though untested) is certainly a valid one in legitimate science, it's been around for like 50 years as a serious attempt to explain quantum chance and waveform collapse. I don't know of any science fiction featuring parallel universes that predates Everett's actual formulation, but I'd be fine with being proven wrong here.

3. Even if it were science fiction originally, this doesn't somehow prevent it from being a serious concept worth further study. Some examples of things that were sci fi before they were science: spaceflight, satellites, computers, lasers, robots, the internet, planes, submarines, loads more...

 

[TheRundownRabbit]

So this has been making me scratch my head. Y'know how there is supposedly an infinite number of parallel universes with their own realities? Shouldn't that mean that there is a universe in which that version of me somehow travels to this universe at this exact moment in time and appears right next to me? My brain really hurts!

Maybe the dimension-hopping parallel you appeared before another parallel you. Maybe you are actually the parallel you, and the dimension-hopping you has already appeared to the real-you.

....DAHHHHHH!!! Now my brain hurts more than before

 

[TheRundownRabbit]

Huh.... That's actually a really goof question! Wow hey what lead ya to that thought? just curious?

Well, like all of my outrageous thoughts and speculations...it all started while I was drinking. I was watching that one episode of Futurama with the boxes and there was a bunch of empty beer cans next too me and I was like "soo duz dis mean that another me fron a different universal er whatever will come to this universem and bring me more liquor?!" (The spelling errors in that are on purpose)

 

[Henkie36]

I don't believe the whole multiverse theory in the first place. There is just one universe, but the mass just sort of stops at one point, but the space is endless.

 

[kinggamecat]

Huh.... That's actually a really goof question! Wow hey what lead ya to that thought? just curious?

Well, like all of my outrageous thoughts and speculations...it all started while I was drinking. I was watching that one episode of Futurama with the boxes and there was a bunch of empty beer cans next too me and I was like "soo duz dis mean that another me fron a different universal er whatever will come to this universem and bring me more liquor?!" (The spelling errors in that are on purpose)

Hahah, yer pretty funny. Interesting though though ^^ Liquor and futurama leads to such a profound question heheh, weird how things like that work out isn't it? ^^

 

[Scarim Coral]

Maybe this time travelling version of you just didn't teleport right next you HOWEVER in another parallel universe you did encounter the time travelling you. How hard is it to get? Just try to think this universe is the mosy "normal" or plainest universe out there.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

The problem there is your assumption that the number of extra dimensions is infinite. The best scientific theories put the number at either <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory>10, 11, or 26. The idea that there are an infinite number of universes where every eventually must statically exist is an invention of science-fiction.

3 things:

1. There's a difference between a dimension as you're using it and a parallel universe (sometimes erroneously referred to as an "alternate dimension", which is why you're confused).

2. The concept of "many worlds" (though untested) is certainly a valid one in legitimate science, it's been around for like 50 years as a serious attempt to explain quantum chance and waveform collapse. I don't know of any science fiction featuring parallel universes that predates Everett's actual formulation, but I'd be fine with being proven wrong here.

3. Even if it were science fiction originally, this doesn't somehow prevent it from being a serious concept worth further study. Some examples of things that were sci fi before they were science: spaceflight, satellites, computers, lasers, robots, the internet, planes, submarines, loads more...

1) Yeah, you're right. I realised that after posting, but by then I'd already put it out there.

2) My problem with the Many Worlds theory stems from it's almost total unworkability. The idea that every possible interaction is played out somewhere; well let's just look at that shall we? At it's most basic level MW (not CoD) assumes that if a coin is flipped and lands heads, in another universe it lands tails. but if this theory is correct it must be correct for every single particle and atom in the universe. That means each and every interaction must be played out between every molecule in the universe. This means that each nanosecond will produce billions of alternate universes from the possible interactions of just a few atoms. Now think how many atoms there are in the your little finger, your body, the building you're sat in, your town, country, world, solar system, galaxy, the universe. For the MW theory to be correct, within .00001 seconds of the Big Bang there would have been a number of parallel universes so close to infinite that they could reach out and touch it. And each particle of each of those universes would be spawning billions of possible universes every second as well. And each of those, and so on and so on. There's no way that amount of energy and mass could exist without ripping apart the fabric of each universe it spawned.

3) That's true, but equally just because something is science-fiction that doesn't stop it from being total scientific quackery. Hell, just look at how often time-travel is brought up.

 

[randomsix]

2) My problem with the Many Worlds theory stems from it's almost total unworkability. The idea that every possible interaction is played out somewhere; well let's just look at that shall we? At it's most basic level MW (not CoD) assumes that if a coin is flipped and lands heads, in another universe it lands tails. but if this theory is correct it must be correct for every single particle and atom in the universe. That means each and every interaction must be played out between every molecule in the universe. This means that each nanosecond will produce billions of alternate universes from the possible interactions of just a few atoms. Now think how many atoms there are in the your little finger, your body, the building you're sat in, your town, country, world, solar system, galaxy, the universe. For the MW theory to be correct, within .00001 seconds of the Big Bang there would have been a number of parallel universes so close to infinite that they could reach out and touch it. And each particle of each of those universes would be spawning billions of possible universes every second as well. And each of those, and so on and so on. There's no way that amount of energy and mass could exist without ripping apart the fabric of each universe it spawned.

Technically it all exists in the same, or relatively identical, physical space. And yes, you are correct in the number of "alternate universes" that this theory entails.

The reason it is OK is that the MWI (many worlds interpretation) posits that the quantum wave function which describes our universe (exactly like a quantum wave function describes the possible positions of a particle) results in different states being decoherent. That means that the different "solutions" (experienced univereses) are out of phase and cannot interact with each other. So while there are a nearly infinite number of universes which the master wave function describe as occupying the same space, any observer inside the wave function sees only one universe.

So for any observer, be it a particle or conscious being, there is effectively only a mundane amount of matter in the universe. So we need not worry about the universe spontaneously collapsing into one gigantic black hole.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

I like the concept... but the technical details make my brain ache. For instance, if any choice leading to any alternate outcome leads to an alternate universe, shouldn't there be like billions of them? Or do some of them fold into other alternate time lines?

...Gah....

 

[TheVioletBandit]

You can't reach parallel universes. It's a fundamental law of the theorem. Take heart in the fact that in one of those universe a parallel you tired and failed though.

You can't reach parallel universes. It's a fundamental law of the theorem. Take heart in the fact that in one of those universe a parallel you tired and failed though.

It is theoretically possible to enter a black hole and by avoiding the singularity then enter into and be expelled from a white hole into another universe.

Okay, you go jump in that black hole. Have fun with relativity and ensuing time dilation causing you to take millions of years to pass through. Also, have fun traveling faster then light to get out.

Firstly I said it was theoretically possible, not plausible. Secondly if I could be the first person to successfully explore a black hole beyond the event horizon, and somehow returned unharmed possibly in my present (since the event horizon of the white hole will take you to the past) then I would, and I'd be a hero for doing so and some kind of super space badass If I happen to explore an alternate reality as well.

 

[Deus mortuus est]

The whole multiverse thing is almost certainly bullshit. The whole concept is incredibly silly, with no basis in fact, theory or even logic.

Each parallel universe is supposed to be the same with only a slight change between them, so it could be that those universes don't have that kind of technology either. Or, it could be that they went to every other parallel universe except this one.

If you make a slight change between universe 1 and 2, then another between 2 and 3, and so on and so forth, eventually you will reach a universe that shares absolutely 0 commonalities with universe 1. If there are an infinite number of parallel universes, at least one has come up with the way to travel between them. And since there are infinitely many parallel universes, there are infinitely many who have such technology. Thus, we can conclude that there have been infinite visits to every universe. As such, they have visited our universe.

The multiverse theory is complete bullshit, Hollywood science at it's absolute worst, made worse by the fact that so many people actually believe it's true. It would be acceptable if it was a religious theory, at least that way it could take refuge in theology, but it's presented as scientific when it's anything but.

I don't think you've quite grasped the meaning of infinity, at least that's what it looks like. Simply put it doesn't work like that. If you have an infinite amount of universes and a infinite subset of those who can 'hop' between the verses there will still be an infinite amount of universes that have never had any outside visitors. Look up the Hilbert Hotel example, it explains it well.

Also, Occam's Razor does not work that way and simplicity =/= a single universe.

 

[Owen Robertson]

I would think the laws of physics would stop travel between Multiverses. Namely the laws of Thermodynamics because the Universe is a closed system, and travel between would require a gain/loss in the total amount of energy contained in that system.

Unless you simply switch places with an alternate "you". Then the law of conservation of matter isn't broken. And there are no paradoxical effects causing event-horizons. The universe works like Windows. If there's an error, it crashes. Black Hole = system crash.